““The opposition between continuity and discontinuity is the basis for music-temporal thinking in [Jonathan D.] Kramer’s writings. … Since Kramer deems continuity to be ‘material’, one must assume that its antithesis, discontinuity, is also or partakes of material. A composer’s decision whether to use one or both of the ‘materials’ (in whatever proportions) plays a role in how time might be experienced whilst listening to music.”
– R. A. Baker
From: Temporality in Twentieth-Century Opera
(Part one of PhD Dissertation in two parts, McGill University,
Montreal, Canada. Summer 2008),
p. 32
composer
BIOGRAPHY - COMPOSITIONS - WRITINGS - NEWS & EVENTS - DISCOGRAPHY - PHOTOS - CONTACT - LINKS
The Three Last Minutes in the Life of X
a monodrama for tenor, three actors and six instruments
Libretto by W. Shakespeare and the composer
fl. cl. pno. tenor. vn. va. vc
2007 | ca. 20 min
First performance (f.p.): tba
Shift
for piano & orchestra
Solo piano – 1 1 1 1 – 1 1 1 1 – Perc. – Strings
2009 | ca. 10 min
f.p.: tba
Wings and Engines
for violin & orchestra
Solo violin – 1 1 1 1 – 1 1 1 1 – Perc. – Strings
2005 | ca. 19 min
[] Selected for premiere by the Ontario region of the Canadian Music Centre for the 2007 Professional Readings Series
f.p. 7 May/07, Toronto, Canada; Esprit Orchestra, Alex Pauk (cond.); Marie Berard (violin)
Chamber Concerto #3: Time Fields
1 1 2 1 – 1 1 1 0 – Perc. – Piano – String Quartet & D.B.
2004 | ca. 17 min
f.p. 8 Apr./04, Montréal, Canada. Contemporary Music Ensemble, McGill University, J. Lavoie (cond.)
Chamber Concerto #2: Implications of Time
1 1 1 0 – 1 1 1 0 – Perc. – String Trio & D.B.
2002 | ca. 12 min
f.p. 20 Feb./03, Montréal. Contemporary Music Ensemble, McGill University, J. Lavoie (cond.)
Chamber Concerto (#1)
for seven instruments
cl. bn. hn. pno. vn. va. vc.
2000 | ca. 13 min
f.p. 5 May/01, Toronto. toneART ensemble, Robert Baker (cond.)
Valence III
for oboe, cello & percussion
2010 | ca. 7 min
f.p. Fall 2010, Salisbury University, MD, USA
Valence II
for clarinet, violin, cello & piano
2010 | ca. 13 min
[] Commissioned by James Stephenson and the Chiasmus Ensemble for a premiere at the 2010 York Spring New Music Festival, England
f.p. 15 May/10, Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York, England. Chiasmus Ensemble, James Stephenson (cond.)
Sharp Edges
for violin, viola, cello, bass & percussion
2009 | ca. 7 min
[] Composed for the St. Magnus Composers' Course 2009, Scotland
f.p. 24 Jun./09, St. Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Scotland. Psappha ensemble, Christian Baldini (cond.)
String Quartet #2
2008 | ca. 16 min
[] Selected for Canadian Contemporary Music Workshop, 2009
f.p. 27 Sep./09, Toronto. The Madawaska Quartet
Mirror, mirror…
for two violins
(Vanishing Points: version for two violins & electronics)
2005 | ca. 9 min
f.p. 19 Mar./05,Montréal. N. Yamach & E. Miller (vn.s)
String Quartet #1
"Releasing Anamnesis"
2004 | ca. 14 min
[] Recommended for performance at ISCM World Music Days 2010, Sydney, Australia, by ISCM Canadian Section
[] Finalist in the 6th International Composition Competition, “Città di Udine” 2006, Italy
[] Selected for Canadian Contemporary Music Workshop, 2004
f.p. 30 Nov./04, Toronto. The Composer’s Quartet; 29 Mar./05, Montreal. McGill Chamber Ensemble
Point of Incidence
for violin, guitar & piano
2003 | ca. 12 min
f.p. 8 Nov./03, Toronto. toneART ensemble, Robert Baker (cond.)
Aspects of the Hawk
for guitar, violin, viola & cello
2002 | ca. 13 min
[] Composed with assistance from the Toronto Arts Council
f.p. 4 May/02, Toronto. toneART ensemble
Apertures
for piano trio
2002 | ca. 15 min
[] Composed with assistance from the Toronto Arts Council
f.p. 23 Feb./02, Toronto. toneART ensemble
Chronometrics
for violin & piano
2001 | ca. 13 min
[] Composed with assistance from the Toronto Arts Council
f.p. 20 Oct./01; Subsequent: 8 Nov./03, Toronto. toneART ensemble, C. Gemmell (vn.), K. Tremills (pno.);
22 Jun/02, Thunder Bay, Canada. New Music North, J. Racaru (vn.), D. Oger (pno.)
Excursus
for cello & piano
2000 | ca. 18 min
f.p. 6 May/00, Toronto. toneART ensemble, Tom Mueller (vc.), Lois Simmons (pno.)
Symmetries
for violin & piano
1998 | ca. 17 min
f.p. 13 Dec./98; Subsequent: 26 Feb./00; 9 Jul./01; 9 Feb./02, Toronto; 5 Feb./02, McMaster University,Hamilton, Canada. C. Gemmell (vn.), Robert Baker (pno.)
String Trio
1996 | ca. 15 min
f.p. 15 Dec./96; Subsequent: 4 Oct./97, Toronto. Cygnus Trio; 4 Nov./00 & 8 Apr./01, Toronto. Elgin String Trio
Nor gates of steel so strong, but Time decays?
for solo piano
2010 | ca. 7 min
f.p. 2 May/10, AnDie Musik Live!, Baltimore, MD, USA. Robert Baker (pno.)
Valence I
for solo piano
2008 | ca. 9 min
[] Selected for inclusion in the 2010 Society of Composers, Inc. National Conference
[] Selected for inclusion in the College Music Society 2009 Mid-Atlantic Conference Composer’s Concert
f.p. 6 Jun./08; Subsequent: 5 Sep./08, Salisbury University, MD, USA; 20 Mar./09, CMS Mid-Atlantic Conference, George Mason University, VA, USA. Robert Baker (pno.)
Two Bagatelles
for solo piano
1998 | ca. 8 min
f.p. 6 Feb./01, Vancouver, Canada, The Standing Wave, L. Dala (pno.); 8 Nov./03, Toronto. toneART ensemble, K. Tremills (pno.);
6 Jun./08, Salisbury University, MD, USA, Robert Baker (pno.)
A Forge, and a Scythe
for solo guitar
1998 | ca. 8 min
f.p. 23 Jan./99; Subsequent: 6 Jun./99, 9 Feb./01, 13 Oct./01, Toronto. D. Cumming (gtr.)
But I Can't
for solo guitar
1996 | ca. 5 min
f.p. 6 Dec./96, Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York;
Subsequent: 15 Dec./96 & 8 Feb./97, Guitar Society of Toronto; 15 Apr./ 97, Cardigan Chamber Series, Cardiff, Wales. S. Thachuk (gtr.);
2 Apr./98, Les Jeunes Artistes, University of Toronto; 25 Apr./98, Festival “Giuseppe Rosetta”, Vercelli, Italy; 26 Aug./98, Festival Internazionale della Chitarra, Lagonegro, Italy; 23 Jan./99, Guitar Society of Toronto. D. Cumming (gtr.)
Respice exaudi me Domine Deus meus
for SSSSAAAATTTTBBBB
2004 | ca. 8 min
f.p. tba
In Thee, O Lord, do I put my trust
for SATB a cappella
2004 | ca. 3 min
f.p. 19 May/04, Montréal. St. John’s United Church Choir, Robert Baker (cond.)
Two Songs on poems by Priscilla Uppal
for soprano, violin & piano
2000 | ca. 7 min
f.p. 24 Feb./00, Toronto. toneART ensemble, Elizabeth Pomes (sop.), Robert Baker (pno.)
Two Anthems
Give ear to my words, O Lord; Lord, O Lord, how excellent is Thy name
for SATB a cappella
1999 | ca. 7 min
[] 3rd Prize in 43rd International Festival of Choral Art “Jihlava 2000”, Czech Republic
f.p. 23 Jun./01, Jihlava, Czech Republic. Pardubice University Choir, Jiři Koznar (cond.)
Night Thinking
Three songs for mezzo & guitar on poems by E. Bishop
1999 | ca. 9 min
f.p. 6 Jun./99, Toronto. S. Churchill (sop.), D. Cumming (gtr.)
Two Anthems
How dear are Thy counsels; In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge
for SATB a cappella
1998 | ca. 7 min
f.p. tba
Three Anthems
Teach me, O Lord ; I sleep but my heart waketh; Set me as a seal
for S solo & SATB a cappella
1997 | ca. 8 min
f.p. 9 & 10 May/97, Toronto. St. Cyprian’s Anglican Church Choir, Robert Baker (cond.)
Socks, Love & Anodynes
Five songs for soprano & piano
1996 | ca. 9 min
f.p. 15 Dec./96, Toronto. R. Dala-Beale (sop.), L. Dala (pno.)
Three Songs
for soprano & piano
1994 | ca. 5 min
f.p. 12 & 13 May/95, Toronto. Christine Howett (sop.), Robert Baker (pno.);
Subsequent: 24 Feb./00, Toronto. toneART ensemble, Elizabeth Pomes (sop.), Robert Baker (pno.)